Staphylococcus: definition, infection, how to get rid of it?

Definition: What is staphylococcus?

Staphylococcus is a bacterial germ of the genus Staphylococcus, different strains exist.In humans, the most frequent are staphylococcus aureus (or staphylococcus a golden), the staphylococcus epidermidis (or white staphylococcus), but also staphylococcus saprophyticus.These can be present in all environments (water, soil, air, food, objects)."We can find staphylococci on our skin, on the mucous membranes, in the nose ... without it leads to any symptoms," explains Dr. Tarek Msadek, head of the microbiology department of the Pasteur Institute."But these staphylococci can nevertheless become pathogenic (responsible for a pathology) when they find themselves in a place where they should not be, and they then generate various infections".

The severity of these is defined according to the type of bacteria and the place where it is found.The two most common staphylococci in men are golden and white staphylococci."They are distinguished by their virulence factors: the first is the most serious of the staphylococci, while the second attacks the epidermis" specifies the specialist.

The staphylococcus gold

The golden staphylococcus is, with the bacteria Escherichia coli, one of the most responsible germs of nosocomial infections (which one contracts in the hospital) "30 to 50% of the population has the staphylococcus aureus on him in a wayasymptomatic, that is to say without there being symptoms, "said the specialist.As long as it is not in the body, there will be no consequence since it is part of the natural flora of man (except in immunodeficiency, or the elderly).In addition to being transmitted to the hospital, it can be able to enter the body by direct transmission: the staphylococcus gorn is often present in the nose.If the person touches or scratches their nose, the bacteria finds itself on the fingers, then transferred to someone else by shaking their hand, and they continue to spread in this way until you enterin the body, by mouth for example.It can infect any organ, because the staphylococcus gold is very virulent.

White Staphylococcus

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a bacteria being part of the cutaneous-mucous flora of almost all of the population.This means that we have it on our epidermis without having symptoms.The white staphylococcus can nevertheless become pathogenic in certain circumstances: in the event of immunodeficiency (AIDS, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc.) or during the establishment in the organism of foreign bodies which was contaminated by strains present in the patient himselfeven or the nursing staff.It generally leads to skin -related pathologies.

Symptoms

The manifestations are just as diverse as locations where staphylococcus can infect the body."It is a bacteria that can infect all organs, but mainly causes boils, that is to say skin infections".These skin infections may vary depending on their location:

It can also locate itself in organs and infect bone tissue as in osteitis or osteomyelitis, for example, joints as in spondylodiscitis at the level of intervertebral discs...In more serious cases, it can cause meningitis, endocarditis etc."Depending on the place where she goes, she can bypass the body's defenses, degrade tissues and lyse blood proteins to get iron," describes the specialist.

Contagion: Is it contagious?

As said before, staphylococci can be transmitted in some cases by touching.But that is not necessarily going to say that the person will be infected: for that, the bacteria must manage to enter the body.The bacteria being motionless, it cannot swim or move: it must arrive directly in the body to make effect.

Transmission mode: how do we catch them?

The bacteria enters the body when the skin barrier is broken (by injuries).The bacteria can then develop at the level of the lesion and cause a skin infection whose degree of severity will depend on the bacterial strain at the origin of the infection, as well as the speed of treatment and the general state of health of the patient.These infections are often of suppurative type (with production of pus) and result from the proliferation of the bacteria.You can also catch it by eating: "Like all other bacteria, some produce a food toxin which, even cooked, remains toxic.This was the source of many scandals.The toxin will remain in the food, but is relatively benign: it generates vomiting and diarrhea, but it only lasts 42 hours general ".

Diagnostic

"To start we are alerted by the patient's symptoms: if we see an infection with pus, we take a sample," explains the specialist.Staphylococcus can be highlighted by laboratory crops, and according to SAS color, the type of staphylococcus will be identified."We then ask for a laboratory identification using an antibiogram, to assess the antibiotic resistance of the bacteria," explains the doctor.Depending on this result, we can prescribe a treatment.

Treatment: How to get rid of it?

The treatment of staphylococcus infection involves the use of antibiotics.Depending on its type, staphylococcus can be sensitive to antibiotics usually active on these germs, but it may also have developed resistance."An over-prescription of antibiotics in the 1940s created resistance.As soon as you get out of new antibiotics, a few years later, some bacteria become resistant, "said Dr. Tarek Msadek.The realization of an antibiogram, which makes it possible to test on the cultures of different antibiotics, will give the possibility of determining these resistances and to set up an adequate treatment."If we treat with too weak doses, we kill certain bacteria, but resistances appear and these will take over.However, when the bacteria is multi-resistant, it is difficult to eliminate it, "adds the specialist.

Prevention advice

Thank you to Dr Tarek Msadek, head of the microbiology department of the Institut Pasteur.

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